Blues go one up in Origin Series with tough win over Maroons

The New South Wales Blues have struck the first blow in the 2013 origin series with a 14-6 win over the Queensland Maroons in front of a crowd of 80,380 fans at ANZ Stadium.

The opening 40 minutes was all NSW with early momentum which meant they were able to make easy metres up the field and after just four minutes NSW managed to score through Parramatta Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne who showed great strength to manage to spin his way around through a combined Greg Inglis and Billy Slater tackle to slam the ball down.

Penalties helped NSW in the opening 20 minutes with James Maloney taking the penalty goal attempts on two of these shots although was only able to convert one of these after 18 minutes.

Penalties again managed to change momentum with three straight penalties going straight to QLD and helping them downfield as well some poor mistakes deep in their own half gave Queensland the opportunity to score points but through strong scrambling defence New South Wales managed to keep Queensland scoreless.

Just four minutes before halftime NSW were able to score through Michael Jennings which was converted by James Maloney to take the lead out to 14-0 to which was the half time score.

Inside the final minute the game saw its usual piece of biff with Cronulla Sharks fans having a nervous wait with their Captain Paul Gallen placed on report for a swinging arm on Nate Myles as well the possibility of further problems after collecting Nate Myles with a punch flush on the cheek.

The second half became a real arm wrestle with both sides making metres up the field and NSW again looked more likely in the opening quarter in the second half although NSW were unable to capitalise on these chances with plenty of drop ball through play.

Queensland looked like they could’ve had their first points in the 52nd minute when Cameron Smith rolled over the line although referee Shayne Hayne sent it up to video referees Steve Clark and Henry Perenara who agreed with the onfield No Try call from Shayne Hayne ruling that Cameron Smith made a second effort in putting the ball down meaning he was penalised for a double movement.

As the game hit the final 20 minutes the Maroons seemed to wake up and started to look a lot more organised in their play and they scored in the 62nd minute through Darius Boyd out wide.

After the QLD try the momentum changed completely and the Maroons were the team looking most dangerous with possession inside the New South Wales half although the Blues defence was able to repel anything that the Maroons were able to put to the Blues.

Neither side would have major injury concerns at the current stage although at several points through the game Corey Parker and Jonathan Thurston looked to be considerable pain and could be in doubt for their respective clubs on the weekend.

1 min: NSW complete their first set and QLD will start their first set on their own goalline

2 min: Both sides complete their first sets cleanly, Brett Morris fields the QLD kick on his own 20m and NSW make good metres in the set

3 min:UNFORCED ERROR QUEENSLAND MAROONSBrent Tate makes an unforced error.Brent Tate ruled to have knocked on a bomb, QLD not happy with the call from referee Shayne Hayne, NSW Scrum 10m out from QLD line

4 min:TRY NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES Scored by Jarryd Hayne. Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.OPENING POINTS OF ORIGIN 1 to Jarryd Hayne, a beautiful set move by NSW ending with a piece of strength by Hayne to spin out of a Billy Slater/Greg Inglis tackle, Origin debutant Maloney puts the goal through the middleNew South Wales Blues 6-0

7 min: NSW complete an excellent set forcing their way over halfway and making the Queenslanders have to work it out from deep in their own half

9 min:UNFORCED ERROR NEW SOUTH WALES BLUESBlake Ferguson makes an unforced error.Blake Ferguson makes an error on the first tackle after managing to cross halfway from a shallow QLD kick

10 min:UNFORCED ERROR NEW SOUTH WALES BLUESJames Tamou makes an unforced error.James Tamou coughs up possession 15m out from his own line, creating pressure on the NSW defence

18 min:SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NEW SOUTH WALES BLUESPenalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.James Maloney kicks the penalty goal, pushes the early lead beyond a converted tryNew South Wales Blues 8-0

19 min: NSW making good ground on the seat with Maloney getting to within 5m from the QLD line

20 min: PENALTY NSW - Early penalty count well in favour for NSW 3-0, Cooper Cronk penalised for being too slow getting off James Maloney, NSW taking the penalty shot again

20 min:UNSUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NEW SOUTH WALES BLUESPenalty goal attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.James Maloney pushes the kick to the left of the post, QLD to take the 20m dropoutNew South Wales Blues 8-0

23 min:Luke Lewis almost gets the ball back into the ingoal after kicking the ball after dropping it on his knee, QLD come away with a 20m restart

30 min:UNFORCED ERROR NEW SOUTH WALES BLUESLuke Lewis makes an unforced error.Luke Lewis drops the ball from an awful bouncing pass deep inside their own half, could this be an open invitation for QLD to score?

58 min: PENALTY NSW - A poor finish to the set by QLD is compounded with Greg Inglis penalised for holding on to the legs of Blake Ferguson, NSW start the set 5metres short of halfway

59 min: NSW making easy metres through the centre, though cough up possession with a forward pass ruled about 15m out directly infront of the QLD posts

62 min:TRY QUEENSLAND MAROONS Scored by Darius Boyd. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.QLD punish NSW for the poor play up the end of the field and cross out wide for the try, Cameron Smith to take the attempt for goal and is successful after hitting the post and just getting over the crossbar New South Wales Blues 14-6

64 min: Momentum looks to be starting to go to QLD, first time they have really looked to outmuscle the NSW side tonight

66 min: Queensland making some easy metres up the field, and having a real momentum surge with defence looking its most aggressive

78 min: Inside the final 90 seconds, NSW still hold an 8 point lead, they have possession on halfway

79 min:UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL NEW SOUTH WALES BLUESField goal attempt by Jarryd Hayne unsuccessful.Jarryd Hayne takes the FG shot and misses wide and short but stays just inside the deadball line by a cmNew South Wales Blues 14-6

80 min: FULL TIME at ANZ Stadium, NSW take a 1-0 win in the State Of Origin with a 14-6 win over QLD, in a hard fought match that saw just the QLD converted try scored in the second half